A Canadian view of Anime figures, events, and things foreign.

Hello again. Today’s article is about Canada and how they behaved and are viewed within Anime. I’ve attempted to Google various Canadian animation studios and came across something that I’ll share with you below.

– A lovely Wolf-gal Canadian! I love it! Can I get away with calling her a foxy?

So how is Canada viewed in Anime? From my……..240th (364 as of 2011) completed Anime, I noticed Canada either mentioned or showed in anime in a neutral-positive side. Canada is either mentioned by name, has its own Gundam, or has a Quebec born singer singing an Opening theme song for an Anime. The United States of Americans, Germans, French, and Russians are a high target of getting animized, along with Vietnam, Australia, and CzechoSlovakia (Czech Republic or Slovakia now for those people who lag behind).

How can we pride ourselves along-side them? Let’s find out!

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– The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya:

The first time I noticed Anime talking about Canada was in “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” by name saying how someone moved off into Canada into some cottage in a big forest. Probably nothing special but being a Canadian it just gave me a small smile of hearing the name Canada.

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– G Gundam:

The second time I heard and saw Canada was in a Gundam show called G Gundam where Canada is now known as “Neo-Canada”. It also goes by the stereotype of Canadians where the Gundam pilot is a chubby lumberjack. By the way, guess what the Gundam is called…Grizzly Gundam. Here are a few links and clips to our own designed Gundam *snickers*.

The third Anime to mention Canada would be “Tokyo Magnitude 8.0“. Similar to the Haruhi’s way, it was mentioned by name. A group of students were talking about a cottage in the first episode. Again, probably nothing special, just Canada is mentioned and we have a stable Anime fan base within Canada.

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– Valkyria Chronicles – OP – HIMEKA:

Do you know of Valkyria Chronicles? Are you thinking of the PS3 game or the Anime? For those who are watching the Anime may, or may not, have noticed the first Anime opening was sung by a French Canadian female. Her name is Catherine St Onge and sings by the name of HIMEKA.

If your a Canadian, or from another nation, then please support Himeka in any way you can. Seeing another Canadian sing with a strong passion as her needs to be supported! The funny thing is, both me and those I converse with mention how soft her voice is. Not just soft, even versatile in the way she can sing various Anime or Jpop music with such ease. Another amusing bit is her Japanese level, it sounds more Japanese than the Japanese singers at times. Numerous fans and/or listeners pointed such out.

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Molot Entertainment:

Here is what made me post this article in the first place. Ever heard of a Studio called Molot Entertainment? I came across this company and their Anime news, here, when I was Googling Canadian Animation. I couldn’t find their homepage but Molot Entertainment is claimed to be a Russian-Canadian studio who is partnered up with Studio 4*c for an Anime called “First-Squad“. A Russian-Canadian-Japanese produced Anime.

Note: It’s more Russian than Canadian. Just wanted to list it due to the mention of Canadian’s working in that studio.

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Hetalia:

Hetalia features nations depicted as a single individual in a WW2-styled setting. Canada has it’s own personification in a person named “Matthew Williams” who is often mistaken as America, or is forgotten about. As rude as always towards Canada I guess.

The movie had Canadian actors and was a decently made movie. I know there were flaws but it was still a nice movie to watch (minus the Starship troopers armor). We should be at least proud that Canada + Gundam made it together as one, even if it was a “decent” movie.

Canada, Montreal is added with a qualification round for figure skating and a Canadian bush pilot.

(Until I watch it this is all you’re getting from me sadly.)

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– K-On! Movie:

Because the girls go to London in the movie Air Canada was mentioned by name. They went to London, England (or UK for you picky folks) for the graduation trip as well as to gain inspiration for Azunyan’s gift. Something small yet pride-arousing for myself and any other Canadian. Thanks!

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– Space Brothers (A.K.A Uchuu Kyoudai):

– Space Brothers features a Canadarm in Episode 25.

Space Brothers is a show about two Japanese brothers trying to achieve their dreams of going into space. During their period a few Canadian flags were slipped in at JAXA, NASA’s training space center, and even the famous Canadarm.

As a Canadian I obviously heard of Anne of Green Gables but haven’t dwelled enough to summarize the story on my own. I guess I should feel a bit ashamed? Regardless, the Japanese took the opportunity to give Ann a Japanese version of the said story to their Japanese audience back in 1979. Also, for something so dated it looks so nice for our Anime.

Sorry! I haven’t watched it. I shall make note of it because it is a well known story and Anime.

A Canadian flag can be seen mid-way through episode 1 right before the Queen of Music concert beings. The flag and broadcast can be seen briefly on two separate screens trying to hype up the concert for both the real viewers and those in the Symphogear world around the whole world.

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– Gundam Build Fighters:

– Fox, representing Canada.

Gundam Build Fighters has a massive tournament going on with Gunpla builders from around the world participated. It plays off as Angelic Layer and Busou Shinki with the battle concept of battling and customizing.

In this show Canada is being represented by ‘Fox’. I can get high & mighty by saying that ‘Fox” is me with my Arctic Fox Gundam or Zaku II (kon!), or I can say that they are possibly thinking of Terry Fox. I do hope Bandai and Sunrise shows us who this ‘Fox’ is and how he or she managed to make it into the tournament. Don’t let me and us hanging!

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– Freezing!

– Chiffon Fairchild (Chiffon Aoi) – A French-Canadian ‘Pandora’.

Sadly I can’t tell you much about her, nor what her background is in detail. I can however tell you that she is (allegedly) a French-Canadian lady from Freezing (a show I haven’t watched) ranking #1. Quite a nice beauty with known for her eyes staying closed. More information within the wiki.

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– Strike Witches:

– Elizabeth F. Beurling spending more time with herself than with others, smoking to remember those emotional times. [PIXIV Source]

Elizabeth F. Beurling is based on the actual Canadian Ace Pilot – George Beurling – that Canadians both admire and disliked at the same time. An ace pilot who wanted to do things on his own terms instead of following others, always constantly rubbing other people’s shoulders the wrong way. Always finding himself scolded due to his actions, even causing disgust when discussing his gory scenes locally in Ottawa. He was highly skilled, yet his personality was one where he constantly found himself constantly disliked by those trying to serve or contain in in some manner within the military ranks thanks to his personality. So much so that they sabotaged another plane, effectively assassinating him post war.

That such personality was mostly carried over into Elizabeth whom lost a comrade due to her actions. Always smoking, drinking, and disobeying her superiors. Sadly, I do not no much of her due to her short time in her manga, not even reading it also due to language barriers. I only know what’s written with me knowing more of the actual person than the Strike Witches version. I wish an OVA is considered so I can understand her more. Her homeland being named “The Faraway lands” mapped out in the Canadian general region, even aligned with the ‘Britannian’ side within Strike Witches lore.

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– Grisaia no Meikyuu:

– Vancouver International Airport with semi-generic art-style.

From a good 50 minute prologue episode, this whole thing was quite depressive and quite emotional. This flash-back scene took us back to Vancouver airport where the main character rescued a ‘youthful’ appearing ‘Principal’ from a hostage situation. This all with the assistance of the Vancouver police and the overly energetic American army, or so assuming due to their “Hoo Rah!” type chanting and stereotypical appearance. Was both surprising and amusing seeing Vancouver in this anime within it taking the first 5 minutes of the episode. I would also laugh if that business plane was Bombardier made.

38 minutes into the episode we can see the cross-dressing main character once again Canada, even further back in the time-line coming and going while on assassination jobs. Still trying to ID the second Canadian airport scene simply assuming it’s Vancouver again. Toronto is up there, though may leave it at Toronto.

I should also note that everything within this anime is based from the visual novel that is roughly dated to 2006. Everything you see may be referenced to early 2000 while partially modernized for anime purposes.

(Vancouver Airport, Vancouver Police, and Canadian airport terminal with Canadian flag. More images below you can examine.)

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– In Short:

– Haruhi Suzumiya – Canada mentioned by name.
– G Gundam – Gundam pilot, Gundam (Grizzly or Lumber Gundam), Niagara falls, Rocky Mountains, and Neo-Canada name.
– Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 – Canada mentioned by name.
– Himeka – A French-Canadian female singing in Japanese for Valkyria Chronicles first opening.
– Molot Entertainment – A Russian-Canadian Studio.
– Hetalia Axis – Has a personification of Canada into Matthew Williams
– Ginban Kaleidoscope – Canada, Montreal is added with a qualification round for figure skating and a Canadian bush pilot.
– G Savior – The movie had Canadian actors and was a decently made movie. I know there were flaws but it was still a nice movie to watch (minus the Starship troopers armor.)
– K-On! Movie – Air Canada was mentioned by name on a sign at London Heathrow’s airport. I would of missed this if it wasn’t for Tumblr.
– Space Brothers – Canadian flags in JAXA’s and NASA’s space centers along with the Canadarm making an appearance.
– The Anne of Green Gables – Ann’s Canadian story made into an Anime for the Japanese audience back in 1979.
– Symphogear G – Two or more Canadian flags can be seen in episode 1 before the “Queens of Music” concert.
– Gundam Build Fighters – Fox, representing Canada was mentioned. Do hope we can see him or her in the show. Don’t hold back!
– Freezing! – Chiffon Aoi is allegedly a French-Canadian in nationality, as well as a #1 ranking Pandora. She’s also known to have her eyes closed (Sorry for being vague.)
– Strike Witches – Elizabeth F. Beurling is based on a real Canadian ace pilot with similar personality issues, yet gender-swapped to fit the Strike Witche’s universe. Even given appropriate Strikers based on the planes he flew.
– Grisaia no Meikyuu – Canada was shown right at the beginning with Vancouver airport, Vancouver police, & a giant Canadian flag hanging from an airport terminal.

And with that, that should make us Canadian proud. So to my fellow Canadians, how much Canadian pride do you have? If there’s more Japanese related material containing Canada then point me to them and I’ll be sure to add them in one way or another.

Oooh late in finding this… I have at least one more Canadian reference in anime. But first… interesting that they call it Grizzly Gundam in the dub version because I remember it was called “Lumber Gundam” in the official one XD

Anyhoot… One more Canada reference is from Ginban Kaleidoscope which is about figure skating. The anime starts in Montreal during a world competition. The story is about a girl who is struggling to be Japan’s top figure skater, but her attitude is not exactly the best. Around the same time of the competition an acrobatic plane pilot crashed to his death… he became a ghost and “possessed” this girl’s body. So now it looks like she’s talking to herself when she’s actually talking to a French Canadian ghost! XD

It came out around the same time as the last winter olympic in 2006 where Japan won the gold medal in figure skating. I haven’t finished watching it unfortunately… will do so before 2010 maybe XD

October 8, 2009 at 3:37 pm

Brandoesays:

Here’s three more for you.

Macross Plus: During one scene the map on the wall is a map that has a bunch of cities around southern Ontario. And the forces there are mentioned as the Ontario sector forces. Southern Ontario does get nuked though.

Metropolis: The scene with Kenichi and Tima when he is trying to teach her to speak there is once again a map with Southern Ontario cities on the wall. The geography on the maps in both instances are incorrect.

Akira: Akira’s best friend is named Kaneda pronounced (Can-ne-dah) too close to be a coincidence.

As for the facination with Canada in anime I can’t really say. But it is there.

@Brandoe: Sweet! Nice addtions. If it isn’t too much to ask may you also get a screen or two for what you mentioned? I don’t have the files to those Anime forever.

Thanks for taking your time in posting!

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@Lightingsaber: And even later of me to reply back to you. Apologies. Grizzly and Lumber both work fine heh. I haven’t watched it either, even you mentioning it long ago. Ah well. I’ll get around to it when I do.

Jason Isenbergsays:

@Jason: Does look like the CN Tower, yet could be mistaken for ones in other North American cities. Sure, I’ll add it next time I edit the article Thanks!

October 24, 2012 at 2:58 pm

Cindysays:

What about the Japanese adaptation of Anne of Green Gables produced in the 1970’s? Every Canadian should know about Anne of Green Gables. Before Studio Ghibli was formed, Isao Takahata directed this series and Miyazaki worked on it a little.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_Green_Gables_(anime)
There’s also the anniversary Konnichiwa Anne: Before Green Gables anime series.

@Cindy: Oh? There is an anime about that as well? Wow…If you haven’t mentioned it I wouldn’t of been aware of it. I knew of Anne of Green Gables but not the anime form of it. Thanks & much appreciated. Time to update this article again now that I got enough to do so

December 10, 2012 at 5:50 pm

Cindysays:

Aww, you’re welcome. The Anne of Green Gables anime and book is quite popular in Japan. It’s also known as Akage no An. Prince Edward Island gets a lot of Japanese tourists because of it. The episodes are half an hour long, but here’s a short edited clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEKkUEawGZI

Also, I forgot to mention that in the anime drama Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers), the main character travels to Vancouver, Canada on a vacation. Episodes 28 and 29 cover this. Sorry, I couldn’t find any english subbed episodes on Youtube due to copyright infringement, so here’s a spanish sub http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUcHd2AyXj8

@Cindy: Ah! Sweet! Oh wow, for something so old it looks nice actually. Thanks for even linking me the stuff XD

And the second one looks like Whistler or something. And ya, Youtube is evil like that >.> Thanks again! Nice scenery in it.

December 13, 2012 at 10:05 pm

Jason Isenbergsays:

Sorry for the super late reply haha. Anyways of course that’s the CN Tower, what other gray freestanding tower is there? Besides I can see the skypod booth at the very top of the first pod in that screenshot. It’s got to be it.

PhrozenFiresays:

@PhrozenFire: Oh? Well, I did see Air Canada planes being posted up. Hearing about someone named Geraldine being from Canada has me being highly curious so I’ll have to do another update

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That also goes to the CN Tower bit as well. Pardon the delay on that but I will get to it XD.

February 26, 2013 at 1:19 pm

Misc-13says:

Here something to think about :9

Ever seem Code Geass? As a Canadian I noticed the map in the first episode that explained how Britannia took over in the middle in North and South America with forces attacking over seas. The “Americas” as wiki calls N and S America was the home base of Britannia. Not very often to you have evil Canadians in Anime >:D

Sadly there was no mention of Canada or even a label (on any of the countries)

@Misc-13: Now that’s some nice food for thought for us and for some mangaka out there wanting to turn Canada evil, and not in a comical stereotypical way. An Imperialist evil Canada? *shrugs* Code Geass way I’ll have to check out.

Ah well, a nice food for thought :).

March 24, 2013 at 12:35 am

Chadbrochillsays:

Kate in “Sketchbook: Full Color’s” is a hilarious Canadian transfer student. She even has a hint of the stereotypical Canadian accent in her Japanese xD.

@Chadbrochill: Awesome. I’ll check it out soon and it does seem amusing. Thanks!

August 22, 2013 at 1:30 pm

Kupo-sansays:

In the Anime Freezing, there is a side character named Chiffon Fairchild who’s nationality is Canadian. First Canadian character I’ve really seen in an anime besides Hetalia. (And now G Gundam) 😀

Also there is a mention to a Canadian character in the novelized version (whether graphic novel or actual novel I’m uncertain of) of Strike Witches. The character originates from Faraway Land, which in that universe is believed to be a reference to Canada as the map for the series clearly labels it in Japanese. The character’s name is Elizabeth F. Beurling.

@Kupo-San: Awesome! More Canadians to add onto the list in one big batch of an edit heh. Chiffon Fairchild is a French-Canadian eh? Haven’t seen Freezing but I guess I can queue that up for later. Hetalia I’m aware of, and enjoyed seeing fellow cosplayer’s versions of Canada. G Gundam’s Grizzly Gundam I can be proud of also <3. Nice.

Oh? I haven’t heard anything in awhile on the Strike Witches side of things. I guess I have to do some digging on that to confirm that. Is this “Faraway Land” a combined land-mass of both Canada & US? So long since I had fun with Strike Witches. Clearly labeled…Elizabeth F. Beurling eh?

Many thanks! Going to do quick Google edits to then have a big batched edit to add what I wanted and you mentioned, though on a delay :).

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About Me

A Canadian who is into Anime, photography, Ferrari, and travel. Currently into Busou Shinki series, learning Japanese, picking up photography, and reviewing figures, games while covering various events. Also into Japanese fox spirits.
To contact me - Email - arctickitsune@swgbex.com